Device for use in transposing musical keys or notes

ABSTRACT

A device for use in transposing musical keys or notes comprises two scale-carrying members which when aligned, show not only the relation of the new key signature to the old key signature, but also the equivalents between all the notes of the new and the old key signatures.

1451 July 17,1973

United States Patent [1 1 Hill 2,925,750 2/1960 Capps 3,592,099 7/l97l Gibby 3,635,1'22 l/l972 Perrault................................

Primary Examiner-Richard B. Wilkinson Assistant Examiner-Lawrence R. Franklin Attorney-William Anthony Drucker [22] Filed:

211 App]. No.2 156,019

[57] ABSTRACT A device for use in transposing musical keys or notes comprises two scale-carrying members which when aligned, show not only the relation of the new key signature to the old key signature, but also the equivalents 324 7N7 mu .1 UmF 1]. 21 00 555 between all the notes of the new and the old key signatures.

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,431,972 10/1922 84/474 8 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures Lu .0 .b 3 EEFCU BEDD ID ID. b b [DUE AABB r ilk PATENIEBJuLmm SHEET 2 BF 2 A wmw P k [Ia M a U a H "w CL 16 F & m". a G v M AIM m? B V /M M nlu I U D ID E E [I mm 6 ID A A LU B B E Iv U D ID E E F Hfi F 6 ID A A ID B DU DEVICE FOR USE IN TRANSPOSING MUSICAL KEYS OR NOTES This invention relates to apparatus for use in transposing musical keys or notes.

According to the present invention, the device comprises a support and a member movable relative thereto, the support and member each having marked thereon a row of symbols indicating musical notes or the symbol of a key of music, the two rows being adapted to be disposed in juxtaposed parallel relation and the arrangement being such that for transposing music into a different key, the support and said member are moved relatively to one another to align the original key symbol marked, for example, on the support with the key symbol on the movable member which represents the new key whereupon the symbols on the support which represent a full musical scale of the original key will be aligned with symbols on the said member representing a full musical scale of the notes of the new key so that they can be readily read off.

The invention is not only for use in transposing music into different keys but can serve merely to indicate to a vocalist or instrumentalist the note formation when a key is changed.

To enable the invention to be fully understood it will now be described by way of example, with reference to the drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a device according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the device;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view; and

FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 1 but shows the row of symbols represented as note of a musical score.

With reference also to the accompanying drawings, which for convenience are identified as FIGS. 5, 6A and 6B, and of which FIG. 5 is a schematic longitudinal cross-section through a second embodiment of the invention, FIG. 6A is a representation of the notation carried by the support of the second embodiment, and FIG. 6B is a representation of the notation carried by the movable member of the second embodiment.

As illustrated in the drawings, the device comprises a box-like member or support formed by a base 1 and a top 2 which are assembled together. The top 2 is formed with an elongated slot 3 extending longitudinally of its upper surface and an opening 4 adjacent one end of the slot and to one side thereof.

An endless band 5 is disposed within the box-like member and supported on spaced spindles 6, 7, which engage in recesses 8, 9, in the side walls of the top and base respectively. The spindle 6 has a knurled disc 10 fast thereon and which is adapted to project in part through the opening 4.

The surface of the upper face of the top 2 adjacent one edge of the slot 3 has a row of musical symbols indicated by 1 1, and the endless band has similar symbols arranged in the same order as row 11 and forming a continuous row indicated by I2 on the band 5. The symbols on the endless band are visible through the slot 3 and are in juxtaposed parallel relation to the row of symblos I 1.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, instead of a row of letters indicating musical symbols, the top 2 and endless band 5 may bear symbols representing notes of a score of mu- SIC.

In use, assuming that it is desired to transpose a piece of music originally written in the key of F into the key of A", the disc 10 is rotated to move the endless band until the symbol A" is aligned with the symbol F in the row 11. With the two rows in this position, the other notes in row 11 which represent the original key will correspond with notes on the endless band and accordingly any note in the new key is readily read off.

Instead of providing an endless band such as 5, other forms of movable members may be provided, for example, the member may comprise a slide bearing on a row of symbols such as 12, the slide being mounted for movement axially of the support adjacent to a row of symbols such as 11.

In the second embodiment, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the support takes the form of a boxlike structure having a base la and a lid 2a, the lid being provided with two parallel slots 3a adjacent its ends. The lid of the casing carries a sheet 13 which is illustrated in detail in FIG. 6A. The sheet 13 is divided into twelve sections by parallel lines 14 running from top to bottom of the sheet. The upper edge of the sheet carries a row 15 of key indications associated with the various sections of the sheet, and below these a musical stave 16 is marked, carrying in these various sections of the sheet notes corresponding to the key signatures of the row 15. A row of arrows 17, one in each of the sections of the sheet, point towards the lower edge of the sheet.

The lid 2a of the casing is provided with cylindrical bearing members 6a and 7a, around which passes a transparent movable member 5a. The transparent member passes through the slots 3a and over the face of the sheet 13. As shown in FIG. 6B the moving member 5a consists of an elongated strip transparent material, the lower half of which carries a musical stave 18 carrying two octaves of notes spaced apart by the same amount of the notes on the stave 16 on the sheet 13. The notes are identified by a row of key signatures 19. In use, the ends of the sheet 5a are secured together by a suitable adhesive material.

It will be apparent from a consideration of FIGS. 6A and 6B that when the transparent member 5a is superimposed over the sheet 13, the movable scale 18 can be brought into register with the fixed stave 16, in any desired relative position. In this sense, the operation of the device is analogous to that of the device illustrated with reference to FIG. 4. However, the indication to the user is considerably clearer, particularly so as the notes are set out along a single musical stave in conventional fashion and the alignment between notes and key signatures is stressed by parallel lines 14 and by the arrows 17. In use, the band may be moved by the finger or thumb of the user without the need to provide rotatable bearings or thumb-wheels. For this reason, the markings on the movable member 5a are inscribed on its end surface.

The devices illustrated in the drawings are useful for transposing a piece of music arranged in one key into a different key and does not require any musical expertise as a musical arranger for its use.

They are also useful where a person, for example a vocalist or instrumentalist wishes to find immediately the appropriate note in a different key to that which was originally composed.

What I claim is:

l. A device, for use in transposing musical keys and notes, comprising a support, two bearings carried by said support, a flexible endless belt mounted about said two bearings so as to be longitudinally movable with respect to the support, the support and belt each having marked thereon a row of symbols indicating respectively musical notes and a key of music, according to the function of transposition required, said two rows of symbols being positioned in juxtaposed parallel relation, whereby for transposing music into a different key the support and the belt may be moved relatively one with respect to the other to align a first key symbol marked on one of said support and said belt with a second new key symbol marked on the other of said support and said belt, whereupon the first key symbols of a full musical scale become aligned with second new key symbols of a full musical scale.

2. A device, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said belt is transparent, and wherein the symbol-carrying portion of said belt passes over the symbol-carrying portion of said support.

3. A device, as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least port comprises a window area, and wherein the symbol carrying portion of said belt is disposed to travel beneath said window.

7. A device, as claimed in claim 6, wherein said support is of hollow box-like form, and wherein said belt is enclosed within said support.

8. A device, as claimed in claim 7, wherein the support is of hollow box-like form, and wherein said bearings and a lower run of said belt are disposed within said support. 

1. A device, for use in transposing musical keys and notes, comprising a support, two bearings carried by said support, a flexible endless belt mounted about said two bearings so as to be longitudinally movable with respect to the support, the support and belt each having marked thereon a row of symbols indicating respectively musical notes and a key of music, according to the function of transposition required, said two rows of symbols being positioned in juxtaposed parallel relation, whereby fOr transposing music into a different key the support and the belt may be moved relatively one with respect to the other to align a first key symbol marked on one of said support and said belt with a second new key symbol marked on the other of said support and said belt, whereupon the first key symbols of a full musical scale become aligned with second new key symbols of a full musical scale.
 2. A device, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said belt is transparent, and wherein the symbol-carrying portion of said belt passes over the symbol-carrying portion of said support.
 3. A device, as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of said bearings is a manually rotatable spindle.
 4. A device, as claimed in claim 3, wherein said support comprises a window area and wherein the symbol-carrying portion of said belt is disposed to travel beneath said window.
 5. A device, as claimed in claim 3, wherein said belt is transparent, and wherein the symbol-carrying portion of said belt passes over the symbol-carrying portion of said support.
 6. A device, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said support comprises a window area, and wherein the symbol-carrying portion of said belt is disposed to travel beneath said window.
 7. A device, as claimed in claim 6, wherein said support is of hollow box-like form, and wherein said belt is enclosed within said support.
 8. A device, as claimed in claim 7, wherein the support is of hollow box-like form, and wherein said bearings and a lower run of said belt are disposed within said support. 